Pump



Patented Oct. 9, 1934 y UNITED STATES PATENT YOFFI'CE `PUMP Andre J. Meyer, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Continental Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Virginia y Application February 9, 1931, Serial No. 514,395

14 Claims. (C17. 10S-84)v My invention relates to pumps and more particularly to fuel pumps adapted for use with internal combustion engines, although the principle of my invention may be incorporated in other y5. types vvof pumps and in pumps other than those employed with internal combustion engines.

An object of my present invention is to construct a pump having generally improvedpumping characteristics;

1Q A Another object of my invention is to minimize the manufacturing costs of a pump and, in particular, a fuel pump lfor engines and the like, by providinga compact pump structure employing a minimum of economically manufactured parts 15. which may be readily assembled with a minimum of time and labor.

A'further object of my invention is to construct a novel fuel pump for engines or other like machines by providing a novel pump wherein ,20, a fluid is moved by subjecting a film of such fluidto a moving pump element, thereby utilizing the adhesive and viscous characteristic of such iiuid for transferring motion from said moving pump element to the uid.

l For a more detailed understandin'g'of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one form which my invention may assume, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an engine 30. employing a fuel pump constructed in accordance with my invention, Y

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the pump taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the pump taken 35 on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure V4 is a detail sectional view of the pump drive, and g y Figure 5 is a detail sectional View ofY one of the pumping units. Y l My pump A as shown in the accompanying drawing illustrates` a preferred embodiment of my invention wherein the pump is employed with an internal-combustion engine as a 'fuel pump rfor pumping a fuel to an engine, which' in the present embodiment pumps the fuel to a fuel mixing device or carburetor 11. The pump as herein described is adapted to be preferably operated at a faster rate of speed than the engine Vcrankshaft and preferably my pump is 59 operated by the generator drivingvmechanisrn which is usually operated atfllvtirnes engine crankshaft speed. Obviously, other means 'may bevemployed for driving the pump A as long as such means provide for the speed found to be desirable in devices of this character.`

this speed and film' thickness I find I can ar- My'novel pump A comprises in general a rotor and a stator, the rotor comprising. a geometric circle cylinder12 adapted for direct driving connection with a generator drive shaft 13 by means' of spiral gears. 14-15; the-former being carried 60 by the shaft 13, While the latter is secured to a jack shaft 16 adapted to-be coupled to a rotor shaft 17 pinned or otherwise secured as at 18 to the cylindrical rotor Al2.

The pump stator comprises a casing 19 having 65 a cylindrical bore 20 in which a stator member or sleeve 2l is fitted, said sleeve preferably having a press t with said casing and fixed-therein against relative rotation, the said cylindrical rotor being rotatably supported within said sleeve. The sleeve is constructed to provide' a plurality of pumping units 21a, 2lb and `21o, which are preferably angularly spaced about the inner circular surface of the sleeve as illustrated in Figure`2. The abutments 22 ofthe sleeve lie intermediate the pumping units and are preferably arranged with a very small clearancewith said cylindrical rotor. Eachpumping unit is formed from a segmental portion of the sleeve 21 `(see Figure 5) and consists of Van arcuate fluid chamber 9, inlet and outlet openings 2'7 and 28 respectively, and abutments 22 at each end of the pumping unit. The fluid chamber 9 is formed by providing a segmental recess in the sleeve. The clearance between the 85 bottomV or the recess or fluid chamber Y9 and l said rotor and the length of said chamber is dependent on the speed of the rotor and the amount of pressure and volume of fuel to be delivered, and thusy this clearance provides a uuid chamber through which a iiuid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor.

In fuel pumps for internal combustion engines, a Working pressure of approximately 2 lbs. is 95 required and since the permissible working pres- 1 sure for any peripheral velocity depends on the length and thicknessof the iilm in the uuid chamber, I find that with a speed of about 1% times crankshaft speed I am able to construct a fuel pump of a practical size having the necessary output ,by Aproviding a clearance of approximately' .010 inch between the bottom of Vthe recess or fluid chamber and the rotor. With range a plurality of such pumping lunits around the inner'circular surface lof the stator member or sleeve, and' as shown in the drawing, said sleeve is provided with three angularly spaced pumping units. K

In order to carry out the principles of my invention in a practical way the stator member or sleeve 21 is provided with a pair of axially spaced annular grooves 23 and 24, the former communicating with the inlet passage 25 in the casing 19 and the latter communicating with the outlet passage 26 in the casing 19. One end of each fluid chamber 9 communicates with groove 23 by a transverse passage or hole 27 while the other end of each fiuid chamber communicates with the groove 24 by means of a transverse passage or hole 28. Thus, each pumping unit is provided with an inlet and an outlet port, and it will be noted thesepumping units are operatively connectedl in parallel with each other, thereby providing in effect a multiple pump. y

The outlet passage 26 in the casing is` .connected by means of a conduit 29 to the engine carburetor 11 while the inlet passage 25 is connected by means of a conduit 30 with a source of fuel supply such as a fuel tank (not shown). Preferably the inlet and outlet passages 25 and 26 respectively communicate with the inlet and outlet passages 25' and 26' in a coupling 31 arranged intermediate the casing 19 and the conduits 29 and 30. The passages 25 and 25 communicate respectively with chambers 32 and 33 in the'coupling or fixture 31, and a valve 34 closes the port 40 connecting the chambers 32 and 33, this valve being preferably yieldingly seated by means of a spring 35 and so arranged as to act as a pressure relief valve to relieve any excess pressure in the outlet passages 26 and 26.

It will thus be noted that I have provided a very compact fuel pump for an internal-combustion engine that may be economically manufactured and assembled, the casing and the stator member being preferably formed of die-castings.

Although I have illustrated but one form of my invention and have described in detail but a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains that Various modications and changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A pump structure comprising a stator having a multiplicity of angularly spaced segmental stator elements, and a cylindrical rotor cooperatively associated with said elements and rotatably supported concentrically with respect to said stator elements and radially spaced therefrom to form a shallow annular passage aboutv the periphery of the rotor through which a fluid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said cylindrical rotor, said stator elements provided with fluidinlet and outlet means.

2. A pump structure comprising a stator having a multiplicity of angularly spaced segmental elements, and a rotor cooperatively associated with said elements and rotatably supported concentrically kwithin said stator elements and radially spaced therefrom to form a plurality of substantially non-communicating pumping chambers circumferentially spaced about the periphery of the rotor and through which a vfluid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor, each of said stator elements provided with fiuid inlet and outlet means communicating with said pumping chambers.

3. A pump structure comprising a stator having a plurality of angularly spaced substantially equal length segmental stator elements, and a cylindrical rotor cooperatively associated with said stator elements and rotatably supported concentrically therewith and radially spaced therefrom to form segmental passages circumferentially spaced about the periphery of the cylindrical rod and through each of which a uidrnay berpi'opelled by its adhesive and viscous action With said rotor, each of said segmental stator elements provided with fiuid inlet and outlet means communicating with said passages.

4. A pump structure comprising a casing, a member xed within said casing and carrying a plurality of angularly spaced segmental stator elements, and a rotor cooperatively associated with said stator elements and rotatably supported in radially spaced relation concentrically therewith to form segmental chambers circumferentially spaced about the periphery of said rotor through which a fluid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor, each or said stator elements provided with fiuid inlet and outlet means communicating with said chambers.

5. A pump structure comprising a casing having a cylindrical bore, a sleeve fixed Within said bore and constructed to provide a plurality of angularly spaced stator elements, and a rotor rotatably supported in radially spaced relation concentrically with respect to said stator elements, said rotor and stator elements having radially spaced cooperating working faces constructed to form segmental passages about-the periphery of said rotor through which a fluid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor, said casing and cooperating sleeve provided with fluid inlet and outlet means communicating with said passages.

6. A pump structure comprising a casing having a cylindrical bore, a sleeve xed within said bore and constructed to provide a plurality of angularly spaced stator elements, said casing having inlet and outlet openings, said sleeve having annular grooves respectively communicating with the inlet and outlet openings carried by said casing, said sleeve having a plurality of intake and outlet passages connecting said stator elements with said grooves, and a rotor rotatably supported Within said sleeve in radially spaced relation concentrically with respect to said stator elements, said rotor and stator elements having radially spaced cooperating working faces constructed to form angularly spaced segmental arcuate pump chambers through which a fluid may be propelled by its adhesive having annular grooves communicating with the inlet and outlet openings carried by said casing, said sleeve having a plurality of radially extending intake'and outlet passages connecting vsaid stator elements with said grooves,Y and a geometric circle cylindrical rotor rotatably supported within said sleeve in radially spaced relation concentrically with respect to said stator elements to form passages extending about the periphery of the rotor through which a fluid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor. 1

8. A fuel pump for an internal-combustion engine including a crankshaft and having a shaft rotatable at a speed in excess of said crankshaft, said pump comprising a stator having fluid inlet and outlet ports, a rotor rotatably supported in radially spaced relation concentrically within said stator, said stator and rotor having radially spaced cooperating working surfaces constructed to form a plurality of angularly spaced segmental passages about the periphery of said rotor through which a fluid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor, and driving means for operatively connecting said rotor with said shaft.

9. A fuel pump for an internal-combustion engine having a generator and generator driving mechanism including a shaft, said pump comprising a stator having fiuid inlet and outlet ports, a rotor rotatably supported within said stator in spaced relation therewith, said stator and rotor having radially spaced cooperating working surfaces constructed to form an arcuate segmental passage about the periphery of the rotor through which a uid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor, and driving means for operatively connecting said rotor with said generator driving shaft and thereby driven at a speed in excess of said crankshaft.

10. A pump structure comprising astator having a multiplicity of angularly spaced segmental stator elements, and a rotor cooperatively associated with said elements and rotatably supported concentrically with respect to said stator elements and radially inwardly spaced therefrom to form a passage through which a uid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor, said stator elements provided with fluid inlet and outlet means, and pressure relief valve means intermediate said iluid inlet and outlet means actuated in response to pressure of the iiuid in said outlet means.

ll. A pump structure comprising a stator having a multiplicity of angularly spaced segmental stator elements, and a rotor cooperatively associated with said elements and rotatably supported in radially spaced relation concentrically within said stator elements to form passages through-each of which a iiuid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor, said stator elementsreach provided with iluid inlet and outlet means, said pump structure having a by-pass connecting said fluid inlet and outlet means, and a yieldingly supported pressure relief valve means responsive to the fluid pressure in said outlet means for controlling the fluid flow through said bypass.

12. A fuel pump structure for an internalcombustion engine comprising a casing having a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical stator member fixed within said bore and provided with a plu-- rality of angularly spaced arcuate stator elements, and a cylindrical rotor rotatably supported and spaced radially inwardly with respect to said arcuate stator elements to form passages through each of which a fluid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor, said casing and stator member constructed of die castings.

13. A fuel pump structure for an internalcombustion engine comprising a casing having iluid inlet and outlet means, a cylindrical stator member fixed within said casing and having a pair of axially spaced annular grooves in the outer cylindrical face thereof, one of said grooves communicating with the inlet means and the other of said grooves communicating with the outlet means of said casing, said stator member provided with a plurality of angularly spaced arcuate stator elements adjacent the inner circular surface of the stator member and each provided with an inlet passage communieating with the groove connected with said inlet means of said casing and with an outlet passage communicating with said other groove connected with said outlet means of said casing, and a rotor rotatably supported concentrically within said stator member and radially spaced 105 with respect to said arcuate stator elements to form arcuate pump chambers about the periphery of said rotor through each of which a fluid may be propelled by its adhesive and viscous action with said rotor. 110

14. A fuel pump for an internal combustion engine and including a casing having a stator member provided with a plurality of angularly spaced arcuate stator elements and fluid abutments intermediate said stator elements and a rotor supported for rotation concentrically within said stator member, said rotor and associated stator member constructed and cooperating to provide a plurality of angularly spaced segmental pump chambers about the 120 periphery of said rotor, said rotor having minimum clearance with respect to said abutments to permit relative rotation of said rotor with respect to the stator element but acting to dam the ilow of fluid induced by the adhesive and 125 viscous action of the iiuid with said rotor, said stator member having passages forming fluid inlet and outlet means for each of said pump chambers, said casing having iiuid inlet and outlet means respectively associated with said 130 inlet and outlet means carried by said stator member.

ANDRE J. MEYER. 

